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Official TB salary survey thread

Since my last post, I picked up a steady gig with a bigger regional act. I never get less than $200 plus room and food/drinks. When we go out of state I make more and get a comfy bunk on a bus to sleep in. It's not the big time, but it ain't bad! Due to problems with the booking agent (health and not of his making), we are only playing 3-5 shows a month and looking to record a 6th album to help boost live shows ( first album for me with the band). The music and members in the band are all so cool, I can't imagine a better gig! If you like Country, especially Outlaw/Southern Country, check out Jarrod Birmingham. He's a Texas artist and a great friend!
 
Bar/club gigs with either pop/rock/R&B/traditional jazz - $100-$150 per player.

Club gigs with jazz/funk fusion group (that only other musicians come to listen to...lol) - $50-100 per player.

Wedding/corporate/private gigs with pop band - $500-700 per player depending on if there's also a jazz cocktail set.
 
After I left In The Red (my old band). Scott Sawdy, the lead singer and driver of the Winnebago decided to run sound from stage. So they went from a 6 member outfit to a 5 member outfit. The last I heard they are pulling down $1,400.00 for a two night weekend gig. They play just about every weekend. So yearly they're each making about $14K a year off of the band. (Not enough to live on, but a nice supplement.)

The last original member is leaving this weekend. (Should be a party) and if they don't replace him, the sky is the limit.

That thing was just consuming all my time. I have a day job, and the schedule was killing me!
 
Last-minute fill-in at a block party last month came out to $80 a man - a personal best for me as a bass player (probably made a bit more as a frontman in the '90s but didn't care then and don't remember now). Plus food, drinks and flirting for 4 hours work. Ka-ching!

--Bomb :bassist:

EDIT: Forgot genre. Olde d00d cover band. John Hyatt, Chuck Berry, Doors, B.B. - like that.
 
And, Phalex, if this is the band you were in when you played "Crazy [Lady]" at a biker festival and all these hawt biker old ladies took over the huge stage and started poledancing and whatnot while you played, I would say that actual money was the very least of your compensation.

That moment is burned into my brain. Bucket List stuff. Well done.

--Bomb :bassist:
 
i'm in a cover band from Maryland and we usually play every Friday and Saturday night in Md, Va, and De. Venues ranging from 300-600 people on average, price ranging form $1800-$2200 a night. 15% to our booking agent, $500 to our sound guy (who has been with us the better part of 4 years) and the rest for the 4 of us. weddings and special occasions/holidays start at $3000 and New Years is ususally $5000.
 
Three classic country bands in Nebraska, usually get 60-to-80 bucks a night, mainly at Eagles-type clubs. 75-100 people, 3-hrs, usually done by 10 or 10:30. Also sub in a blues band $75 for 3 hrs, done by 11:30. Average crowd about 90. Acoustic duo usually 50-60 bucks each for one hour at senior centers for grateful audiences. Weddings, private parties, etc. usually minimum $100 each.
 
4 piece rock/r&b/reggae coverband (2 x guitar, bass and drums) playing Long Island NY. Recent gigs -

bar, with house pa - $100/person

restaurant, bringing our pa -- $100/person plus dinner

private party - $250/person
 
modulusman said:
Four piece cover band in Montana. We have gigs this year ranging from $600.00 -$3500.00 a night playing bars, weddings, guest ranches, street dances and fairs. Probably averages out to about $1500.00 a night. We provide PA about 90% of the time.

I see and understand how much bands are charging but not how often they gig.
 
I see and understand how much bands are charging but not how often they gig.

My band gigged enough for me to quit. 50 weekends a year = 100 nights. Plus last minute stuff that wasn't booked a year in advance.

I gig for a couple thousand people at church a couple of times a month or so, and do the odd fill in bar gig.

The church don't pay in money, and the fill in things are good for $100.00 a night.
 
An anonymous entry from the Mid-Atlantic.

I mostly play with a 4-piece, rock/funk/blues/soul cover band, with maybe 6 original tunes a night. I usually take home $80 for a bar gig, 3 sets X 1:15 each. College gigs, $200-$300 for two 90 minute sets. Weddings, anywhere from $150-250. Big outdoor events, "Downtown After 5" etc., $100-$200 for one set, which can be a short as 45 min. or as long as 90. Not enough to make a living, but the IRA doesn't need to know about it, at least not this year. Going to take a blues band to Europe next year, make some real money.